Issues with X-men First Class

Editorial Opinion
By Moonwalker1991 - Dec 02, 2011 02:12 PM EST
Filed Under: X-Men: First Class

Before the gossip begins, I just wanted to let you, the reader be aware that I am a huge comic book fan, have been since I was like, five, and always will be. When I first heard about this film, I was psyched, hoping that it would be faithful to the comics. I figured that with its title, First Class, that the film was going to include some, if not most of the Original X-men: Scott Summers, Jean Grey, Storm, Bobby Drake, Hank MCcoy, and so on. I was one of the many fans out there that started complaining when I heard that this film was going to be totally different from the comic version of First Class. From hearing about the setting being in the 1960's, to a team of mutants that sadly didn't include Scott or Jean, but random mutants like Banshee and Alex Summers/Havoc, Scott's YOUNGER brother, I was ticked. I refused to see the film and turns out that once I actually saw the film... I loved it. I ate every word I spoke. If anything, the film really should have been about Charles and Erik, their relationship as friends. It was, their friendship was well developed, yet I could have done without lesser known mutants like Darwin or Banshee. One of the things about this film that still bothers me... is Alex Summers/Havoc. Why is he in this film? Why? I can't seem to wrap my mind about that concept. It makes no damn sense. That's my first issue. Second, is killing off an amazing character like Darwin. His character was used up and wasted completely. Recently something has come to my attention while watching this film again. Towards the end of the movie during the showdown with Shaw, when the Americans and Russians fired them missiles on the mutants, Charles' attitude is somewhat annoying. Talking about them being good men, despite the fact that they just launched missiles upon them, which would have killed them if Erik hadn't done anything. I just don't see how he can just look the other way after everything that happened. I have to say that this is probably the one time I have to side with Erik/Magneto in an X-men Film, and that doesn't happen often. I can understand wanting to have peace, but if someone's trying to kill you, by, gee I don't know launching missiles, realistically are you really going to look the other way? I wouldn't. If I were in Erik's shoes, I would have killed those punks too. In general, Charles is my least favorite character in this particular film, nothing against the character but that whole thing is just... it doesn't make sense to me.

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ThreeBigTacos
ThreeBigTacos - 12/2/2011, 2:51 PM
"If I were in Erik's shoes, I would have killed those punks too. In general, Charles is my least favorite character in this particular film, nothing against the character but that whole thing is just... it doesn't make sense to me."

You would never make a good super hero lol

Charles wasn't just looking the other way. He knew Magneto could of just stopped the missles with his power, without killing people (i.e. by just diffusing the missiles under water) Charles was trying to stop Magneto from slaughtering all those people. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think either side's army men had an idea that there were mutants on that island. Aside from just taking orders, I don't think they knew exactly what was going on. But again I might be wrong about that last part.
Moonwalker1991
Moonwalker1991 - 12/2/2011, 4:07 PM
Maybe I wouldn't be a good hero, maybe I would. There are two sides to the concept. I'm not trying to hate on the film, I just wanted to get my thoughts out. Think what you will, I really don't care.
Moonwalker1991
Moonwalker1991 - 12/2/2011, 4:18 PM
@Yossarian: Yeah it was stupid. Just like killing Cyclops in X3 was stupid. It was a waste of an amazing character. If you could come up with a reason of how killing him off was not dumb, please by all means, state your thoughts, otherwise don't.
MaddMonkk
MaddMonkk - 12/2/2011, 4:22 PM
Darwin didn't die. If you read through the x-men books with him in it, you'll see that his adaptive powers work at a molecular level. He's not dead. A major issue is the age of the students if you get to present day. They are old. not pertrayed very well in the movies but they would be late 40's early 50's, think about it. Good article.
MaddMonkk
MaddMonkk - 12/2/2011, 4:23 PM
Cyclops didn't dioe either, never showed his body. The producers or whatever left it open for that very reason.
Moonwalker1991
Moonwalker1991 - 12/2/2011, 4:25 PM
@ThreeBigTacos: Appreciate the feedback. Thanks. - - and yeah, I do think Charles was looking the other way. The Americans and Russians joined together for the purpose of wiping out the mutant threat. Stryker Sr. gave the order. Clearly he was aware that mutants were on the island. Maybe the troops weren't, but still. In Erik's mind, all he'd been thinking about since his mother's death in that concentration camp, was the time when he would finally get his revenge. It started with killing Shaw, and being at the mercy of cruel men like Shaw, he wasn't going to let it happen again. He just wanted to protect his people. I would have done the same damn thing, if I were him. "I've been at the mercy of men just following orders. Never again."
Moonwalker1991
Moonwalker1991 - 12/2/2011, 4:27 PM
@MaddMonkk: Thanks for the feedback.
ThreeBigTacos
ThreeBigTacos - 12/2/2011, 5:22 PM
Moon: that's a good way at looking at it too. Let's keep this debate going (seriously, I love open and clean debates)

I do see what you're saying. But also I think that's what give Charles his character. He didn't want to cause violence and chaos through retaliation. He intends to survive and keep the peace between mutants and humans. Part of what makes him a good guy was not only knowing the risk, but accepting what it took to not harm others, and not taking the easy way (Magneto's way).

Part of Erik's flaw is his emotional disadvantage: revenge. Revenge is/was his goal. It took him down the path he is going to become a bad guy. In his mind, his way is the only way to evolve the world to accept mutants (as in kill all humans)
superbatspiderman
superbatspiderman - 12/2/2011, 7:54 PM
I think X-Men first class is one of the most well made super hero movies I have seen in a long time.
Moonwalker1991
Moonwalker1991 - 12/3/2011, 9:50 AM
@Yossarian: Because he's an amazing character, whose power is to ADAPT TO SURVIVE, so why the hell would he die if his power is to survive??? Think about it, and try reading a comic book.
Moonwalker1991
Moonwalker1991 - 12/3/2011, 10:00 AM
@ThreeBigTacos: I think those of us who saw the film, had to have been torn between siding with Xavier or Erik. That's really what it comes down to. I was leaning toward Charles at one point, then Erik. It went back and forth but by the end of the film I really had a hard time coming to a decision. In one way I agree with Erik, wanting to get payback for those who wronged him I can understand that. If I were in his shoes I'd probably do the same, maybe. But growing up with heroes, not villains, I'd most likely do the hero thing and join Charles, regardless of my complex sentiments, because in the end, it's not worth it. Killing Shaw would never have brought his mom back, which is a whole thing in itself, crossing the line between good and evil.
marvelguy
marvelguy - 12/3/2011, 11:10 AM
A wise man once said that Charles is MLK and Magneto is Malcolm X. Charles clearly attempted to lead Erik to redemption.
I was a doubter, too. I saw it in a budget theater. I wish I'd watched it in a premium seat. This movie was well written, well constructed, and well acted. I found Sebastian Shaw to be the only weak link. Yet he was not so weak that it distracted from the complete film.

I agree with nearly all of Ftiz' opinions!
golden123
golden123 - 12/3/2011, 4:11 PM
They couldn't use Cyclops in the movie due to this movie being set in 1962. They decided it would be a good idea to use Havok in place of Cyclops. They both have similar powers, use strategy in their fighting, and they even have ties to each other in the comics. I agree with the whoever decided it was a good idea to rplace one with the other. In the Ultimate comics Havok is the older brother of Cyclops. Maybey, in movie continuity, they're half or step brothers, and Havok is older.
golden123
golden123 - 12/3/2011, 5:51 PM
LOL, I didn't reread one sentence in my last article to see if it contained any mistakes, and it is painfully obvious which one I'm talking about. I added that sentence in after I typed up the comment.

Anyways, Darwin was killed because it exemplified Sebastion Shaw's power and ruthlessness more. It showed that Shaw was willing to kill mutants, as well as humans. Somebody figured it was a good idea to feature Shaw killing a mutant, and quite frankly, I agree with that person. They also thought it was better to take a character from the comics, rather than create a new one. There are so many characters in the comics that probably wouldn't make it into a movie anyways. Was there a character you would of rather them use? Was there a character who would of made more sense to use?
Also, the reason Darwin was able to die was because he had limitations. He was trying to adapt, but he could only handle so much. Darwin didn't know he had this limitation, though. Hints the fact, Darwin was alive. The moment Darwin found out he had limitations, he died.
Moonwalker1991
Moonwalker1991 - 12/4/2011, 10:42 AM
@Golden123: I never knew Havoc was Cyclops' older brother in the Ultimate universe, I've always known Scott was older in the classic comics. So, now that I think about it I suppose it makes sense now. Still don't like him in this movie, but at least now I can rest easier about the whole Scott/Alex Summers thing. Thanks for clearing that up, now about Darwin... considering my love for the X-men universe, I do approve of using different mutants in each film, which I think is cool. Just having these characters on the big screen is amazing. I would have preferred that more well-known mutants were used in this film, considering the title: First Class. Many things were mixed up from various stories in the comics not just the characters. I would have preferred that this film would have been about young mutants, specifically Scott, Jean, Storm, Bobby Drake, y'know, Original X-men, learning to control their powers. I know the X-men movie timeline is messed up, but still after seeing X-men Origins Wolverine, I figured since Scott Summers was introduced as a young mutant, First Class would include him and others in a prequel. That's one of the many reasons why I was originally upset with FIrst Class. But then I saw the movie and I was and am still impressed with how good it turned out.
Moonwalker1991
Moonwalker1991 - 12/4/2011, 10:43 AM
@Fitz: No need to apologize my friend. I happen to love Star Wars, so it's all good.
golden123
golden123 - 12/4/2011, 11:57 AM
@Moonwalker1991: Darwin is a lesser known character. That's why he was chosen to be killed off. Can you imagine how the fans would react if a more well known mutant was chosen to take Darwin's short lived place? Also, in the comics, it was retconned that, Darwin, along with a few other mutants, was one of the first 14 members of the X-men. That retcon took place back in 2006. Supposedly, Darwin and three other mutants (including Cyclops' and Havok's brother Vulcan) became X-Men members after the original line-up and Havok, Polaris, and two others took their place although they presumably came before Wolverine, Storm, Nightcrawler, Colossus, and Banshee.
Moonwalker1991
Moonwalker1991 - 12/4/2011, 5:10 PM
@Gold: Still, it was a waste of a character. Lesser known or not.
StormLoganSummers
StormLoganSummers - 12/5/2011, 2:56 PM
I don't care for Darwin, so I just hope he doesn't come back. Havoc could have been a little more developed and could have had more of a presence in the film, but maybe in the next one.
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